Instructions

ZOOM IN by clicking on the page. A slider will appear, allowing you to adjust your zoom level. Return to the original size by clicking on the page again.

MOVE the page around when zoomed in by dragging it.

ADJUST the zoom using the slider on the top right.

ZOOM OUT by clicking on the zoomed-in page.

SEARCH by entering text in the search field and click on "In This Issue" or "All Issues" to search the current issue or the archive of back issues
respectively.
.

PRINT by clicking on thumbnails to select pages, and then press the
print button.

SHARE this publication and page.

ROTATE PAGE allows you to turn pages 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise. Click on the page to return to the original orientation. To zoom in on a rotated page, return the page to its original orientation, zoom in, and
then rotate it again.

CONTENTS displays a table of sections with thumbnails and descriptions.

ALL PAGES displays thumbnails of every page in the issue. Click on
a page to jump.

146 GOOD UNIVERSITIES GUIDE
Paralegal studies
What majors can I study?
The following are just some of the majors you can study in this
field:
What you’re in for
While law is often front of mind for those considering a career in
the legal system, fewer students consider the roles available in
justice administration — police officers, parole officers, prison
officers, paraprofessionals who assist lawyers, and people who
design and run security systems in big organisations, among
others. Most of the courses in this field are designed to prepare
people to enter these occupations, while others focus on areas
more closely tied to humanities disciplines.
If you are interested in this field, you should also look at courses
in law (if you meet the entry requirements), social work and
certain specialisations within the humanities and social sciences.
Depending on your interests and career needs, you may also find
courses that appeal to you in fields as varied as business and
management, education and training or science.
Courses and specialisations
Although paralegal courses were traditionally offered in the
vocational education sector, many are now available at degree
level — either as standalone degrees or as majors within arts or
social science programs. Some of the newer specialisations
include defence and counter-terrorism studies.
Graduates work in the justice system, legal services, protective
services and government departments, among others.
Opportunities also exist in private industry and, depending on the
specific area of specialisation, in independent private practice.
Where to study
Relevant courses are offered at most universities, although some
will boast a more extensive course menu than others. Some
degrees are designed to provide upgraded qualifications for
people already working in these occupations and are offered part
time or sometimes even externally.
Entry to these courses is generally easier than law, although the
overall level of difficulty has increased over time. This may reflect
the rising demand for forensics-related courses, which also fall
into this category, as well as for courses like criminology, defence
and terrorism. To compare entry difficulty at different institutions,
see the ‘How tough is it to get in?’ tables in Section 4.
 FOR FURTHER HELP...
•
To compare the pros and cons of paralegal studies with other
fields of study, see the table on page 68 and institution
profiles in Section 4.
•
For more on jobs and careers in this field, see The Good
Careers Guide website at www.goodcareersguide.com.au.
•
For ratings of postgraduate paralegal studies courses, see
The Good Universities Guide website at
www.gooduniversitiesguide.com.au.
To compare paralegal studies courses, please see the Law
profile.
•
Border management
•
Civil practice
•
Criminal justice
•
Criminology
•
Forensic science
•
Justice administration
•
Juvenile justice
•
Legal studies
•
Police studies
•
Security
The student body ratings
THE STUDENT BODY
INSTITUTION
Total
students
%
International
students
%
Domestic
school
leavers
Estimated average
tuition costs for
international
students
ACU
ADELAIDE
$106 833
ANU
58
9
47
$132 697
BOND
58
17
38
$99 336
CANBERRA
164
3
40
$68 670
CDU
50
25
CSU
2285
2
8
$60 000
CURTIN
$110 200
DEAKIN
701
1
55
$70 440
ECU
335
2
32
$79 710
FED UNI
44
55
$67 800
FLINDERS
234
2
66
$66 362
GRIFFITH
2308
3
37
$71 814
JCU
$72 000
LA TROBE
153
3
74
MACQUARIE
$91 977
MELBOURNE
$89 112
MONASH
37
100
$83 100
MURDOCH
230
7
$80 245
NOTRE DAME
$86 015
QUEENSLAND
35
14
100
$104 132
QUT
1204
10
49
$83 000
RMIT
738
2
43
$69 120
SOUTHERN CROSS
565
20
$63 600
SUNSHINE COAST
134
4
44
$59 400
SWINBURNE
772
9
$84 460
TASMANIA
175
13
$73 500
UNE
501
1
11
$60 600
UNSW
395
3
68
$109 470
USQ
$61 384
UTS
$79 500
UWA
5
$85 500
VU
94
5
50
WESTERN SYDNEY
1320
12
$70 400
WOLLONGONG
$68 832
AUSTRALIA
13 006
The fees shown are for the whole course and approximate. Confirm with the
institution. For an explanation of abbreviations, see page 436.
GUG 2017.book Page 146 Friday, June 24, 2016 2:39 PM